Page 103 of Since We're Here
MADDIE
Wednesday, March 26
Boyfriend Disaster #8: Paul, the Friend Who Looked Like Clark Kent
Job Location & Length: Carlo’s Steakhouse, 3 years
My Age: 30
Working at Carlo’s Steakhouse was the longest job I’d ever had. I hit my stride as an assistant manager and knew the promotion to manager was within reach.
Paul started work as a bartender halfway through my time there. Mid-thirties, wide shoulders, chiseled jaw; he legit looked like Clark Kent. We were friends—just friends—and god knows I wanted to keep it that way. He was a good dude. A good friend.
It worked until the last month. We’d shared a bottle of wine after a shift and ended up at my apartment. How could I resist a guy who looked like Superman? He was gone before dawn, and we pretended nothing had happened.
He did, anyway.
But my feelings had changed, and I wanted more. I thought maybe it was possible, but then he started dating the hot blond hostess, acting like nothing at all had happened between us. I couldn’t handle it. I told him I was leaving for better career opportunities, and he didn’t push me on it. Deep down, I think he knew why. We didn’t keep in touch.
I was thirty when I left.
Breakup Reason: We were just friends.
My Distress Level: 8, this one cut deep
Lesson Learned: Two lessons. First, sometimes friendships need to stay as friendships. Second, never trust a guy who is hotter than Superman.
At four o’clock, Patrick walks through the door to O’Brien’s and looks at me with an intense gaze. What’s going on in his head? He was so quiet last night on the couch in my flat, which is fine as I can babble for hours on my own. When I asked him about it, he shook his head and saidnothing. He made an excuse to sleep at his cottage without inviting me back.
I tried not to make anything of it, but it’s been bothering me ever since.
“Hey,” I say when he gets to the bar. I wish he’d kiss me. But there’s a lot of people here, including Ronan, so I get why he doesn’t.
Not that it’s stopped him before.
“Hello.”
“Did you have a chance to look through the hotel list I sent last night after you left?”
“Yes. Can you sit for a second?”
For a minute he looks so serious that nerves swarm my stomach like angry bees. I glance at Ronan, who gives me a nod.
I sit first, and Patrick settles in the chair across from me at the usual table. He offers me a strained smile, but my insides don’t untwist.
“So. Quirks, Tats, Brews, and Views. You’re really going to make us do all that weird shite you found?”
“Yup.”
He chuckles, but there’s strain on his face.
“I can’t wait.” I attempt a smile.
“I had a different suggestion for the Dublin hotel. It’s closer to Temple Bar area, but just far enough away that it shouldn’t be too expensive. Here, I’ll text you the link now.” He taps on his phone and mine buzzes. “I also sent you a link to a different one for Donegal. It’s in a more central area. They both had availability when I checked.”
“Whatever you suggest, sure. How about the rest?”
“Agree on Saoirse’s hotel for when we’re in Dingle. I wish we could all fit comfortably in the cottage, but it’d be tight and then we’d have to drive to get to the city center. We can walk everywhere from the hotel. The Belfast hotel looked good. And everything else was fine.”
